Fisheries and Aquaculture
October 13, 2006

(Yellowknife, NWT) � Ministers from the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Nunavut gathered in Yellowknife on October 12 at a meeting of the Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (ACFAM). The meeting, co-chaired by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and the Honourable Tom Rideout, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, followed a meeting of the Canadian Council, which also met in Yellowknife.

"It is of great significance for representatives of all Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Nunavut to come together to discuss our fishing and aquaculture industries. We share a dependence on these industries," said Minister Rideout. "We are all facing challenges within those industries, some similar, yet some unique, and we all need to discuss possible solutions and new opportunities for moving forward. In that regard, our discussion was very productive."

Minister Hearn opened the meeting by noting recent developments on the international level. The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) has adopted significant reforms, including improved monitoring, control and surveillance measures which are to take effect starting January 1, 2007. Thanks in large part to Canada�s leadership; vessels caught misreporting their catch will be directed to port for immediate inspection and all NAFO members will now be obligated to deal with any of their vessels caught breaking the rules.

He also apprised his colleagues of the recent UN meeting on the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems where Canada took a strong and balanced approach to bottom trawling that respects both the environment and the people who rely on the ocean for their livelihood.

"Canada is a nation that fishes responsibly and we will continue to do so. Responsibility requires tough rules and a strong commitment to enforce those rules, while still ensuring that our industry remains viable and can compete internationally," said Minister Hearn.

Provincial and territorial ministers expressed support for the government�s position, noting that the approach is applicable not only internationally, but domestically as well.

On the domestic front, ministers took stock of progress on work launched at forums in Newfoundland and Labrador and in the Northumberland Strait to address emerging threats to the viability of the fish harvesting and processing sectors. The challenges, many of which are rooted beyond Canadian borders, include globalization of world fisheries, the rising Canadian dollar, tariffs and high fuel prices.

Ministers also considered management and policy options for the crab and shrimp fisheries following the tabling of recommendations from intergovernmental task groups established by the ACFAM to look at current issues and opportunities for those industries.

Ministers instructed their senior officials to work together to follow up on the task group recommendations in concert with initiatives that are emerging from the various fishing forums.

"Many of the unprecedented challenges facing Canada�s fishing industry are very acute in Atlantic Canada," said Loyola Hearn, Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "If Canada is to have a viable and robust Atlantic fishing industry, we � DFO, the provinces, Nunavut and industry � must not only collaborate, but be strong, creative and balanced in our approach."

Ministers agreed that they share a common objective � a sustainable, economically viable and internationally competitive industry, able to adapt to changing resource and market conditions and extract optimal value from world markets. To achieve this objective, ministers committed to continue to work together using an "oceans to plate" approach to address common Atlantic challenges.

Ministers were presented with an update on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleets in Canada�s Atlantic Fisheries. DFO has developed a proposed approach to dealing with the issue of "trust agreements" and discussions are ongoing with the provinces and industry.

Ministers confirmed their support and commitment to aquaculture in Atlantic Canada and agreed to work together on common challenges and opportunities in this sector.

Ministers reiterated that the annual Canadian seal harvest is well-managed, sustainable, humane and legitimate and agreed that they need to collaborate to get this message out internationally.

The ACFAM meets on a regular basis to discuss and work collaboratively on fisheries and aquaculture issues of particular interest to Eastern Canada.

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